I wasn't absent, I was sick!

I teach Intro to Theatre. It is my conviction that one of the greatest attributes of the art of theatre is that artists from different disciplines with different talents collaborate to create a unified work of art-- together.

Because of this conviction, I design my class with a strong component of collaborative and group work.

My class is not difficult. I work hard to design a class that includes a variety of ways to succeed. If you do the work, you can not only pass the course, but also get a decent grade.

If you show up.

Since during much of the course there is group work and group discussion, the student must BE THERE. The theatre department is also stringent in regards to attendance.

Every semester, my students earn a lot of As, some Bs, a few Cs, barely any Ds.

And every semester, in spite of repeated warnings, there are a good number of students who fail.

For instance, this semester, in my class of nearly 50, ten students failed, all for attendance-related issues.

I am mystified by the students who come once, or twice, and then stop attending. In spite of email messages I send, stating that it is mathematically impossible to pass the course, and they should withdraw, these students do not withdraw and consequently fail the class.

WHY would one NOT withdraw if the professor suggests it?

My mentor, then chair of my department, suggested it might be that some students must enroll in a certain number of credit hours to qualify for student financial aid. That is certainly possible; but surely the financial aid is withdrawn if the student fails because they NEVER SHOWED UP!

Every semester there is one student- sometimes more- that seem to feel the rules do not apply to them.

This semester, in addition to the seven who stopped coming, there were three students who received the warning about their excess absences. I met with each of them, explained that they had the option to drop the class, and, when they expressed it was important to them to pass, I worked out a plan of extra work for them to compensate for the absences, on the condition that there would be NO future absences.

One of these students eagerly agreed, had no more absences-- and not only did not do the additional work, she did not do the required work of the course. I was completely mystified as to why she would turn up for the final exam, but she did. However, I did not hear from her when I emailed her, explaining that as she had not done the work, she would be failing the course; nor did I hear from her when I posted her grade of F.

One of these students agreed, then had two additional absences, and did not turn in the additional work until a week past the last date on which I would accept additional work. I again was mystified to see this student show up for the final exam, even though I had announced several times in class, AND posted in email announcements to all the class, stating that for students who had an agreement with me regarding make-up work, any additional absences would void the agreement. However, I did not hear from him when I emailed him, explaining that as he had two additional absences, and had turned in the work far past the deadline, he would be failing the course; nor did I hear from him when I posted his grade of F.

The last of these three also had the benefit of the class announcements and email announcements stating that agreements regarding make up work for excess absences would be voided if there were additional absences. She had two additional absences. I emailed her explaining that as she had two additional absences, the agreement was voided and she would be failing the course.

I heard nothing in response to the email, sent a day and a half before posting grades.

I then posted grades. I heard nothing from her for another day.

The day after posting grades, I began receiving a barrage of emails from this student. First, she wrote that she understood the agreement, but she had NOT been absent two more times. One of the dates I had recorded as an absence (I had sent the calendar dates in question) she had not been absent, she had been tardy. On the other date, she wrote, she had not been absent. She had been very sick and unable to attend class.

Really? Not absent, just sick and therefore not in class?

I wrote back saying that the agreement was NO more absences, that even if she had been tardy, it was HER responsibility to let me know that day-- and that 2 tardies were the equivalent of an absence and she had more than one tardy. I also wrote that I regretted she had an illness, however since she was not in class it was still an absence.

She wrote again saying she thought she had told me she was late, but she was really stressed that day so maybe she forgot, and she really wants to pass the class, could I change the grade?

I wrote again saying that whether or not she had told me about the tardy, she still was absent on the other date; that I had given her the option to drop the class; and that two tardies still equal an absence.

She wrote back saying, yes she understood but even if she left an hour early sometimes traffic made her late and she really wanted to pass the class so could I give her a C?

ARGHHH!! I wanted to remind her of her repeated tardies, that I had not bothered to factor in; that her regular course work was often late or even missing; that her additional work was late; that her in-class work was sub-par.

I haven't responded to her latest missive. I don't know if I will.

Does she believe that the rules apply to everyone else? That she should get a C just because she WANTS one?

There were three other students, in addition to those above, who met with me, worked out a plan, and adhered to the plan. They didn't miss any more classes, they did the additional work without complaint, and, in fact, thanked me for the opportunity to improve their grade.

Those students are the ones for whom I am glad to be flexible.

The others...

Jack the Rabbit Killer

I was so looking forward to sleeping in this morning. Yesterday I finished the last of my obligations that had been consuming my time and attention for the past few months, and though there are new assignments ahead, I was looking forward to a break of at least one restful day.

I would have roused and made myself presentable if I had received a call asking me to substitute teach, but barring that occurrence, I planned to loll in bed for awhile and then have a leisurely day.

Relax.

At a little after 5:00 a.m., Jackson's whining drove me to get up and let the dogs out- actually just Jackson, because Jasper could care less about an early morning pee. Jasper has figured out that the 5:00 a.m. outing has nothing to do with getting fed, so he keeps sleeping. Jackson, however, continues to insist on these pre-dawn romps in our fenced-in backyard.

I got up to let Jackson out, knowing that I would have no trouble getting back to sleep. I stumbled back to bed and was soon asleep; I roused just enough to hear Ken getting ready for work. Ah! I had not received a call to substitute teach- I snuggled back under the covers.

But.

Within minutes of Ken's leaving for work, Jackson was whining in earnest again. (Ken had brought him in and fed both him and Jasper and brought them back into the bedroom.)

Fine. I would let out Jackson and Jasper for their post-feeding romp and ... er... release... er ... relief... THEN I would go back to sleep for at least another half an hour.

I stumbled out of bed and took them downstairs and they bounded out eagerly-- Jackson in the lead--

to grab up his big, dead rabbit.

YUCK.

I tell him to drop it. He does, but stands over it, growling when Jasper comes near it.

Poor, food obsessed Jasper. He can tell that what Jackson has is something that contains food, but he is completely baffled as to how one might get at the food. Isn't there a bunny wrapped around it?

I start to approach and Jackson grabs up his kill and runs INTO THE HOUSE followed by Jasper.

Double YUCK.

I go inside and get the broom and a rag. I chase Jackson away from his kill with the broom, grab the carcass with the rag, and storm outside to fling it out of the yard and into the weeds outside of fence.

I go back inside and wash up and resign myself to being up early.

Because I can't go to sleep NOW.

YUCK.